CALIFORNIA · SUPPLEMENTAL PRACTICE
Carrying cargo safely
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You are taking a large bookcase home in a passenger car. It is resting on the roof, and one light cord passes over it, but the bookcase can still slide when you push it. What should you do before driving?
- Secure the bookcase directly to the vehicle with suitable straps so it cannot shift, then check the restraint again. (correct): Correct. A restraint attached directly to the vehicle addresses the item's movement before travel.
- Drive slowly on side streets; the cord will be enough if you avoid sudden stops.: Incorrect. Gentle driving cannot make a visibly shifting item secure, and traffic can still require braking or a turn.
- Cover the bookcase with a blanket and rely on its weight to keep it in place.: Incorrect. A blanket may protect a surface, but it does not restrain the bookcase from sliding or falling.
A bulky item that can slide is not adequately restrained. NHTSA's general load-safety guidance recommends attaching large objects directly to the vehicle and using a restraint such as straps; the driver should not begin the trip while the item can shift.
Source: NHTSA: How to Secure Your Load — Tips for Securing Your Cargo Properly: large objects and rope/netting/straps
Several light garden bags and small tools are in the open rear cargo area of a vehicle. A gust or road bump could scatter them. Which preparation best addresses the risk?
- Place the items close together and assume their combined weight will keep them from moving.: Incorrect. Putting pieces together does not keep wind or a bump from moving them out of an open area.
- Cover and contain the whole group with a sturdy net or tarp secured so the items cannot blow or bounce out. (correct): Correct. Containing the full load addresses the chance that individual pieces will scatter or leave the vehicle.
- Leave the tools uncovered so they are easy to see, and check only after reaching the destination.: Incorrect. Visibility of the items does not contain them, and a destination check comes too late to protect other road users.
Small or light cargo can escape even when each piece seems harmless. NHTSA recommends considering a sturdy cover over the full load; the covering itself must also be secured for the trip.
Source: NHTSA: How to Secure Your Load — Tips for Securing Your Cargo Properly: cover the load with sturdy tarp or netting
You have tied down a load of boxes and are about to leave. During a final check, one box shifts when you press against it, and you realize a sudden stop could move it farther. What should you do?
- Retighten or rearrange the load until it stays secure, then repeat the check before leaving. (correct): Correct. Fix the movement before departure, then verify the correction.
- Start the trip and plan to tighten it at the next stop if it moves again.: Incorrect. Waiting until a later stop leaves the cargo unsecured during the trip.
- Add speed so the boxes settle against the rear of the cargo area.: Incorrect. Acceleration cannot secure a box, and it can move the cargo in another direction.
A pre-drive check should find a problem while it can still be fixed safely. If a box moves under a simple check, correct the restraint before driving and confirm the load is secure, including against foreseeable braking or bumps.
Source: NHTSA: How to Secure Your Load — Always double-check the load; consider what could happen during hard braking or a bump